Lille close on Champions League return with Nimes thrashing

17:26 - 06 August 2024

Pepe (L) scored his 20th league goal of the season as Lille thrashed Nimes

Lille moved closer to a return to the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2012 as Christophe Galtier's side produced a fine second-half display to thrash Nimes 5-0 on Sunday.

Five different players scored after the break as Lille moved six points clear of third-placed Lyon in Ligue 1. The top two in France qualify directly for the Champions League.

Former Chelsea forward Loic Remy broke the deadlock six minutes after half-time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Jonathan Bamba made it two with a magnificent header. Turkish full-back Zeki Celik lobbed in the third with 20 minutes to play and Nicolas Pepe tapped in his 20th Ligue 1 goal of the season 10 minutes later.

Substitute Rui Fonte to drilled home an injury-time fifth, leaving Lille on the brink of Europe's top table.

Elsewhere, Algerian Youcef Atal scored a hat-trick as Patrick Vieira's Nice beat bottom club Guingamp 3-0 to keep their hopes of reaching the Europa League alive.

Caen edged out fellow strugglers Dijon 1-0 to move above their opponents into 18th, the relegation play-off place, and keep the pressure on 17th-placed Monaco.